PSA’s New Seven Wonders of the Soccer Collecting World

[fadster]

If arguing about this years Ballon d'Or isn't enough we have the follow up to last months 7 Ancient Wonders (https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1492420) by our own @kobewhite

This was ways going to be tough but I think it's a great job, probably the 7 I would pick. With the Megacracks Messi and Mega Craques Ronaldo a given picking just 5 others is pretty tough but I think the 5 have the right balance or player profile and hobby status.

Here's the longer version of the 7 modern wonders article

https://www.psacard.com/articles/art...llecting-world

There is also a registry set created for this collection, to go with the set for the previous article. It's been great to see some football set being created, the Ballon d'Or winners /1st / 2nd / 3rd teams are a great addition too.

[mfw13]

Surprised they chose so many stickers....

Ronaldo's 95-96 Estrellas Europeas is a much tougher card than his sticker, likewise Henry's France Foot RC.

Zidane's rookie card is also tougher than his rookie sticker, especially centered.

And Dennis Bergkamp & Gabriel Batistuta's 91-92 Shooting Stars RC's are almost impossible to find. They should at least make the Honorable Mentions list, if not outright replace Ronaldinho.....

[YayNJ]

I wondered about Ronaldinho being on the list too. It's a bit of a hipster choice. Good list though, and rather shamefully I only own two.

Having said that, I'd have dropped the Ibrahimovic too. He's an enigma (mostly of his own making), but I think there's plenty more deserving.

[fadster]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Surprised they chose so many stickers....

Ronaldo's 95-96 Estrellas Europeas is a much tougher card than his sticker, likewise Henry's France Foot RC.

Zidane's rookie card is also tougher than his rookie sticker, especially centered.

And Dennis Bergkamp & Gabriel Batistuta's 91-92 Shooting Stars RC's are almost impossible to find. They should at least make the Honorable Mentions list, if not outright replace Ronaldinho.....

They are mostly second year issues from smaller brands, just nowhere near the status or interest in the hobby as the heavyweights. This is about history and icons of the hobby, the whole sticker v card thing is irrelevant.

[Mitch]

I'm enjoying this focus and content from PSA. A reminder to consider that £50-100 less a month on modern could have you a really good piece every six months too (depending on which or what!).

Good work, Kobe.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by fadster

This is about history and icons of the hobby, the whole sticker v card thing is irrelevant.

Debatable....

I know plenty of collectors (like me) who only collect cards and have little to no interest in stickers.

Conversely, Europeans like yourself grew up primarily with Panini stickers and may have very different feelings about them.

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by Mitch

I'm enjoying this focus and content from PSA. A reminder to consider that £50-100 less a month on modern could have you a really good piece every six months too (depending on which or what!).

Good work, Kobe.

Appreciate it

[kobewhite]

To me, this was just the top items in soccer, not card v. sticker. What I consider the most iconic 7 items. In the article I mention that rarity does not play a part, in fact the more rare I think it actually hurts the ability for an item to be iconic. I would never picture a card in front of the stickers I chose for those players personally.

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by fadster

If arguing about this years Ballon d'Or isn't enough we have the follow up to last months 7 Ancient Wonders (https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1492420) by our own @kobewhite

This was ways going to be tough but I think it's a great job, probably the 7 I would pick. With the Megacracks Messi and Mega Craques Ronaldo a given picking just 5 others is pretty tough but I think the 5 have the right balance or player profile and hobby status.

Here's the longer version of the 7 modern wonders article

https://www.psacard.com/articles/art...llecting-world

There is also a registry set created for this collection, to go with the set for the previous article. It's been great to see some football set being created, the Ballon d'Or winners /1st / 2nd / 3rd teams are a great addition too.

Today I am adding the Yashin award set(only 2 winners so far) and I updated the Kopa set with Pedri's megacracks.

Going to make a bunch of IFFHS sets absed on their awards, dream teams, etc. Always open to suggestions, especially easy ones where the players are already determined. I want to build All time Brazilians, Argentinians, etc but they take a while since I kind of debate internally who should be added.

[fadster]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Debatable....

I know plenty of collectors (like me) who only collect cards and have little to no interest in stickers.

Conversely, Europeans like yourself grew up primarily with Panini stickers and may have very different feelings about them.

The vast majority of US collectors in the vintage sphere have no qualms as you have so many funky formats out there. There were several hours of hot debate across various groups when this list came out and I never heard this brought up once, was MvB out of place as it was too old I heard a lot, did Henry deserve his place came up too, what about Zlatan and Beckham but no complaining about stickers.

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by fadster

The vast majority of US collectors in the vintage sphere have no qualms as you have so many funky formats out there. There were several hours of hot debate across various groups when this list came out and I never heard this brought up once, was MvB out of place as it was too old I heard a lot, did Henry deserve his place came up too, what about Zlatan and Beckham but no complaining about stickers.

Maybe some day I will do a top cards list for those who do not collect stickers. But for the time being, stickers are an integral part to the history of soccer collecting.

[YayNJ]

You can't be a serious soccer collector if you exclude stickers. Simple as that.

You're soccer-lite

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

You can't be a serious soccer collector if you exclude stickers. Simple as that.

You're soccer-lite

I guess if you collect only Ultra Modern it may be different, but yeah to collect any Brazilian rookie pre Neymar you wouldnt be able to get a card for them.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by kobewhite

I guess if you collect only Ultra Modern it may be different, but yeah to collect any Brazilian rookie pre Neymar you wouldnt be able to get a card for them.

Not everyone cares about rookie cards.....

[Anish]

Wonder if they will do a pre-war or if they don’t know enough…

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by Anish

Wonder if they will do a pre-war or if they don’t know enough…

Well, I am the one who writes the articles and I do collect pre war.

It wouldn't come out for a while. We haven't graded a lot of items that I would have on the list.

Next article is probably Top 5 soccer sets all time.

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Not everyone cares about rookie cards.....

Of course not. I would say a lot of my favorite PC items are not rookies.

[weichni]

Originally Posted by kobewhite

Well, I am the one who writes the articles and I do collect pre war.

It wouldn't come out for a while. We haven't graded a lot of items that I would have on the list.

Next article is probably Top 5 soccer sets all time.

That will definitely be another interesting read

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by kobewhite

Next article is probably Top 5 soccer sets all time.

I'd nominate a few modern card sets (not stickers) that probably will strike many people as somewhat "out of the box" choices:

- The "Sportscaster" set from the late 70's....not purely soccer, and odd-sized cards, but the only set with cards of all the greats of the game up until that point

- The 1993/94 Upper Deck World Cup sets....the first exposure to soccer for many US collectors, and gorgeous cards to boot....put soccer card collecting on the map....

- 1996 Estrellas Europeas....the first Champions League style set with teams from multiple European leagues....features rookie cards (not stickers) for Ronaldo & Roberto Carlos

- 2014 Prizm World Cup....the first World Cup set that was in huge demand as soon as it released

- 2017 Nobility....the first soccer set primarily focused on retired all-time greats....CR7, Messi, and Pulisic are the only active players

[fadster]

I think complete locks would be:

1970 Panini World Cup Stickers
2014 Panini Prizm World Cup
2017/18 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League

Then it's a whole bunch of possibilities including

1907-13 Taddy & Co
1920-23 Pinnace Footballers
1938 Konig Fussball
1950 Tinghalls World Cup
1958 Alifabolaget World Cup
1963/64 Panini Calciatori
1965/66 Bergmann Bundesliga
1996/97 Merlin Premier Gold
2006 Panini World Cup cards
2018 Panini Eminence
2018/19 Panini Donruss
2019/20 Topps Chrome Sapphire

[kobewhite]

Originally Posted by fadster

I think complete locks would be:

1970 Panini World Cup Stickers
2014 Panini Prizm World Cup
2017/18 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League

Then it's a whole bunch of possibilities including

1907-13 Taddy & Co
1920-23 Pinnace Footballers
1938 Konig Fussball
1950 Tinghalls World Cup
1958 Alifabolaget World Cup
1963/64 Panini Calciatori
1965/66 Bergmann Bundesliga
1996/97 Merlin Premier Gold
2006 Panini World Cup cards
2018 Panini Eminence
2018/19 Panini Donruss
2019/20 Topps Chrome Sapphire

Great list, I may need to do 1971 and before top 5 and post 1971 top 5.

[YayNJ]

2018/19 Panini Donruss has to be in there, even as an "*" inclusion.

It pretty much re-booted the hobby for many collectors